NOTTINGHAM, CHARLES HOWARD, 1ST EARL OF (in Howard line) (1536-1624), English lord high admiral (also known as 2nd Lord Howard of Effingham), was the eldest son of William, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham, lord high ad miral. He was nearly connected with Queen Elizabeth, his father's sister, Elizabeth Howard, being mother of Anne Boleyn. In 1559 he was sent as ambassador to France to congratulate Francis II. on his accession, and in 1569 was general of the horse under the earl of Warwick for suppressing the Roman Catholic rebellion in the north. The next year he commanded a squadron to watch the Spanish fleet which came to conduct the queen of Spain from Flanders. In the parliaments of 1563 and 1572 he represented Surrey, and succeeded to his father's title in 1573. He was in stalled a knight of the Garter in 1574, and made lord chamberlain of the household, an appointment which he retained till May 1585, when he became lord high admiral of England. He also filled the offices of lord lieutenant of Surrey and high steward of Kingston-upon-Thames. He was one of the commissioners at the trial of the conspirators in the Babington Plot and of Mary, queen of Scots, in 1586.
In Dec. 1587 he hoisted his flag on the "Ark." His letters at this time reflect vividly his sense of the impending danger. "For the love of Jesus Christ, Madam," he writes to Elizabeth, "awake thoroughly and see the villainous treasons round about you, against your Majesty and your realm, and draw your forces round about you like a mighty prince to defend you. Truly, Madam, if you do so, there is no cause for fear." On the approach of the Armada on July 6, 1588, Howard describes thus the disposal of his forces: "I have divided myself here into three parts, and yet we lie within sight of one another, so as if any of us do discover the Spanish fleet we give notice thereof presently the one to the other and thereupon repair and assemble together. I myself do lie in the middle of the channel with the greatest force. Sir Francis Drake bath 20 ships and 4 or 5 pinnaces which lie beyond Ushant and Mr. Hawkins with as many more lieth towards Scilly." He directed the various engagements (see ARMADA), and stayed him self to conduct the attack on the "San Lorenzo," stranded off Calais, arriving in consequence at the great fight off Gravelines some time after the engagement had begun. His tactics have been criticized both by contemporary and by later authorities. Instead of risking all in a pitched battle with the enemy, he resolved to pursue the less heroic method of "plucking their feathers little by little"; and his prudence, while justified by the extraordinary results, was also greatly praised by so good a judge as Raleigh.
Shortly afterwards. under Howard's directions, a "Relation of Society Publications, i. In 1596 Howard and Essex commanded the expedition against Cadiz, when a squadron of the enemy's ships was destroyed and two of the number brought home. Essex insisted on landing, and Howard, who had been specially charged by Elizabeth to protect her favourite, was obliged to follow in his support. The town was sacked and the forts destroyed. Howard was created (Oct. 22, 1596) earl of Nottingham.
In February 1598, and again in 1599, when there were fears of invasion, Howard was appointed "Lord Lieut.-general of all Eng land," and exercised full authority both over the army and the navy. He took a leading part in suppressing the rebellion of Essex, and served as a commissioner on his trial in 1601. It was to Nottingham that Elizabeth named James as her successor on her deathbed. He continued to hold office as lord high admiral under the new king, and in 1605 was despatched as ambassador to Spain, where he secured peace. He served on numerous com missions, including those on the union of the two kingdoms in 1604, for the trial of the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot and of Henry Garnett in 1606, and for reviewing the articles and rules of the order of the Garter in 1618, and he attended Princess Elizabeth on her marriage to the elector palatine with a squadron to Flushing in 1613. Nottingham, who, unlike many of the How ards, was a staunch Protestant, was commissioner in Surrey for inquiring after recusants, and in the diocese of Winchester for hearing ecclesiastical causes; he sat on the government commission for discovering and expelling Roman Catholic priests, and was mentioned in 1602 from Douay as one of the three enemies most feared by the recusants.
On the report of the commission on the navy in 1618 and of the abuses then exposed, Lord Nottingham, though no blame was attached to himself, being now over 8o years of age, vacated his office of lord high admiral. He died at Haling House, near Croy don, on Dec. 14, 1624, and was buried at Reigate, a monument being afterwards placed to his memory in St. Margaret's church at Westminster. He was a striking and almost heroic figure in the Elizabethan annals. By his splendid character and services he was placed beyond the reach of the intrigues which troubled the repu tation of many of his contemporaries.
Lord Nottingham married (I), in 1563, Catherine, daughter of Henry Carey, 1st Lord Hunsdon, (2), when in his 68th year, Mar garet, daughter of James Stuart, earl of Murray.